mams99

Up until now, I have not had a bike repair stand. I just take my bike in for regular maintenance (which I will still do), but I've wished for a bike repair stand for awhile so I can more easily change tires or even line up a tire more easily.

Right now (and for the foreseeable future), if we want to ride our bikes, we need to haul them in in old Honda Fit. We can fit 2-3 bikes in the car if we take off the front wheel. The problem with this is getting the front wheel all centered up properly every time we do this. Maybe having a bike repair stand I can throw in the car will make that easier to center? (or is that silly?)

I figure I would also use this repair stand for cleaning the chain. It has to be easier than trying to do it while the bike is on the ground. I'm also thinking of getting the super heavy duty one because I have an electric cargo bike. The Pro Mechanic HD by FeedbackSports is the one I'm thinking of getting.

As you can figure out - I'm mostly an end user bike rider. I know how too change a tire, but that's about it.

icemilkcoffee 

I don't understand your problem. Is this a quick release front wheel? Just get the axle all the way into the drop out. There is no need to play around with anything. Put the wheel on the ground and put the fork over the wheel axle and gravity will center the axle in the drop outs.

veganbikes

That stand is rated for 70lbs max just keep that in mind. The electric moped looks like it could be quite a bit heavier (though removing the battery might help get it in the 70lbs range) and you will need to lift it by hand the Prepstand E-Up Pro from Topeak helps lift the bike up a little, it is not perfect but it makes it way easier than lifting by hand. It is going to be a bit more expensive but having used it, it is worth it.

squirtdad

for learning about maintenance here is a great site https://www.parktool.com/en-us/blog/...saAuJQEALw_wcB

for books

https://www.amazon.com/Zinn-Art-Road...zcF9hdGY&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/Park-Tool-Blu...s%2C153&sr=8-3


on repair stands, I recommend spending some money, I got a park brand a while back and it has been the single best bike repair purchase I have made. it is similar to below Edit: noted e cargo bike...as noted make sure you get a stand that can handle that weight

https://www.amazon.com/Park-Tool-Uni...1zcF9hdGY&th=1

other people are sure to pop up with some lower priced options

mams99

Last year my son's disc bike started rubbing. And the old bike I was using was also really fiddly to get it to drop out properly. That bike is now on the trainer and a non issue, but it was not simple. Plus, I always felt like the tire was going to fall out by how lose we had to keep it. It never did, but it was super fiddly.

mams99

The stand I'm looking at is considered the best repair stand it will take up to 100lbs. (According to a couple of sites)

Pratt

I'm with Squirtdad on this. In fact I posted what turned into a whole thread on this about how dumb I had been for decades, yes probably your whole life! in not getting one.
On the practical side, if maintenance is easier, maybe it will become more frequent, "Fixing deferred is fixing denied" as they say

dedhed

I have a big $ Feedback pro elite and a cheap ALDI one . Is the Feedback better? Without a doubt. But the cheap one is more than adequate for regular maintenance tasks

mams99

I keep seeing these HUGE books at REI. I guess I should get one and start learning. I'm just a bit intimidated!

philbob57

If you're near a bike co-op, you can probably get hands-on guidance there. I read books on maintenance when I started out, but a guy at the U Michigan bike co-op actually showed me how to rebuild a hub, for example.

mams99

There are a couple co-ops near me, but not so close that it won't take some planning. I think a book WITH some hands on help would be best, but for now I probably have to settle for a book.

mams99

This one has a new edition coming out in June, but I wonder how much different it could be for someone with an older bike? Though, the one is a 2006 I think...

Also wondering if a Kindle version would be more or less practical?

bargainguy

Love the idea of a workstand. Have you thought about taking a basic maintenance class?

Sometimes there's no substitute for having someone knowledgeable demonstrate a task in person, and you being able to replicate that task on the spot.

Nothing against internet videos, but there are nuances in personal interactions you just don't get in videos.

WaveyGravey

How do you go about finding a local bicycle co-op? Thanks

mams99

I literally typed in a search online, "coop bicycle shops near me". I haven't been to them, but I found their sites and locations and all info about them. I live in the DC/Bmore area and I found some... and I know some shops have classes too while not technically being a co-op.

smd4

Maybe the best portable stand.

I think it will do everything you want it to do, and then some. It’s pretty nice.

dedhed

Don't know how up to date this is.
https://www.bikecollectives.org/wiki..._Organizations

https://www.thebikehouse.org/

https://gearinupbicycles.org/

https://velocitycoop.org/

Velocipede Bike Project

mams99

Right, that is for my area (which is pretty plentiful), but for anyone else looking, doing a search with a search engine should give you websites to look up.

icemilkcoffee 

It should never be the case that the quick release tightness is used to compensate for disc rubbing. And the quick release should never be loose in any way. Are you talking about the brake disc rubbing? Where was the rubbing occurring?

Rick

This stand is actually rated at 120 lbs

Koyote

Sure, but it's got to be bolted to the floor.

Leisesturm

I have like the next up from the most basic of Park Tool repair stands. My DW was stuck for a Christmas present for me and it must have slipped her mind that I already had a good repair stand. She got this stand for me. She is a good shopper. Does research. Reads reviews. The proof though, when I put this thing side by side with my big blue tried and true, there isn't much not to like. Since four of my bikes are tandems and I've never found a good way to get a standard repair stand to hold a tandem, I plan to use both of them, one at each end! As for the o.p., I think I've found them a bike stand. FWIW

ScottCommutes

There are tons of bike repair tasks where a repair stand is handy, but putting a wheel on is something you can do on the side of the road pretty easily using gravity. A stand does make chain cleaning a little easier, but not all that much.

I have a cheap-o under $100 bike stand. It works. It folds up. It holds my bike. While it does go to standing height, I am lazy and often work sitting on the floor with my tires only an inch off the ground. Makes it easier to grab tools and parts as well. My bike is not a cargo bike or an e-bike, however.

If I was you, I would have a hard time stomaching the price of the stand you mentioned. You would have to use that stand a lot of times to justify the purchase price. However, that's what they say about e-bikes - everything is more expensive.

Rick

Mine is bolted to a base plate. My old park double is bolted to a tractor trailer brake drum.

70sSanO

I have a Feedback Ultralight which is not something I’d recommend. I’ve had it for about 10 years and use it constantly. I have built a few bikes on it, as well as maintenance. It has been a great stand for me.

My Ultralight was originally sold as a 75lb stand. It is currently advertised as “optimized” for 35lbs or less, with a max load of 75lbs. I have serious doubts on the 75lbs as I need to brace the stand with the bike wheels when torquing a BB to keep it from tipping.

I have serious concerns about an aluminum repair stand with that much weight. Not so much holding, but having it not tip. It all comes down to the leg length and mass. If the tripod does not form a large enough diameter, or heavy enough base, it might be a difficult balancing act at 60+lbs.

John